Skip to content
Life Hacks Germany
Verified guide

Tax ID (IdNr): What It Is and How to Get It

Your tax identification number is permanent and used for tax and employment processes.

Share

XLinkedIn

Quick Start

Follow these first actions before reading the full guide. Most users resolve 80% of confusion with these steps.

1
After Anmeldung, the tax ID is sent by letter to your registered address.
2
If it does not arrive, request it directly from the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt).
3
Keep the number safe and share it only with trusted institutions.

Step-by-step plan

  1. 1

    After Anmeldung, the tax ID is sent by letter to your registered address.

  2. 2

    If it does not arrive, request it directly from the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt).

  3. 3

    Keep the number safe and share it only with trusted institutions.

Key context

The tax ID is permanent and does not change with address changes.
BZSt is the official authority for issuing and re-sending the tax ID.

Costs

Free.

Local notes

Processing times vary; request early if you need it for payroll.

Risk checks

!Expecting the tax ID by email (it is sent by letter).
!Sharing the ID widely or on insecure forms.

Official sources

We review this guide regularly and refresh it when official rules change.

Related guides

Continue with the next guide

Browse the full pillar or jump to tools.